In 17th Century New England, a witch was thought to be (usually) a woman who used her powers to effect good and evil, even making pacts with the devil. Some early Puritans found Mary Bliss Parsons, a member of one of the first families in 17th century Northampton, problematic. Indeed, Mary was a perfect blueprint for an early New England witch: a woman of middle-age and married to a successful man, a mother of 11 children most of whom reached adulthood. She was smart, savvy with her money, and known to speak her mind. Gossipers called her a witch and accused her of misdeeds toward animals and people. She was eventually brought to trial for witchcraft.

In her exhibition Mary Bliss Parsons: Accused Witch of Northampton, Susan Montgomery explores the confusing and contradictory rumors and accusations against Mary Bliss Parsons. The presentation of women in history, culture and our communal memory has always been a subject for Montgomery, who has worked with such figures in her art as Pope Joan, Marie Curie, The Radium Girls, Hester Prynne, the Daughters of Saint Crispin among other female heroes.

Montgomery's selection of watercolor paintings are complemented by a sculpture installation and linocut print. Interspersed in the exhibition is an anvil from the permanent collection and copies of historical documents recording accusations by early Northampton town settlers against Mary. The most meaningful historical connection to this exhibit is the land on which the museum itself sits: this was once the Parsons family homelot. Her home, long razed, was a couple hundred yards from Montgomery's exhibition.

Detail of Nocturnal Rambles: Fly my PrettiesSusan Montgomery, 2016

Map showing the location of the Homelots of Some of the First Settlers of Northampton, compiled in 1893 from the earliest town records by James R. Trumbull. Cornet Joseph and Mary Bliss Parsons were granted a four acre homelot at the corner of Bridge and Market streets.

Susan Montgomery is an artist who lives and works in Easthampton, Massachusetts and teaches studio art and Art History at Westfield State University and Mount Wachusett Community College. She has been awarded several grants including The Sustainable Arts Foundation, Blanche E. Colman, and most recently a Northampton Arts Lottery grant for this exhibition. For more about the artist and her work visit: susanmontgomeryart.com

Contemporary Art at Historic Northampton exhibits the work of artists who draw on local history or artifacts in the museum collection for inspiration. Exhibits rotate monthly February - November, opening on Arts Night Out 2nd Fridays.

Each exhibit is paired with a related history lecture. The July lecture will feature Michael Thurston